Pressure mounts on Senegal coach Habib Beye over unwanted start as Marseille manager

Senegal tactician Habib Beye is under intense pressure following a sloppy start to life as manager of French Ligue 1 giants, Marseille.

The former Stade Rennais boss was swiftly appointed to take over at Marseille after parting ways with the club. He stepped in to replace the outgoing Roberto De Zerbi amid a turbulent period at the club.

His arrival came at a time of unrest, with fans expressing dissatisfaction and uncertainty surrounding the club’s direction and internal hierarchy. Despite the difficult backdrop, Beye was tasked with steadying the ship and restoring confidence both on and off the pitch.

However, his start to life in Marseille did little to calm the storm. The team failed to win any of their first two matches under his leadership, raising early concerns about his impact. To his credit, Beye responded with a strong run of three consecutive victories, though each of those wins came by a narrow one-goal margin — a sign that while results were improving, performances were still far from dominant.

Just as momentum appeared to be building, Marseille stumbled again. A defeat to Lille OSC before the international break halted their progress, and the pressure continued to mount as they travelled to face AS Monaco on Sunday night.

In a closely contested encounter, Monaco edged the match 2–1, a result that had significant consequences in the Ligue 1 standings. The defeat saw Marseille drop to fourth place, while Monaco drew level on points with them, intensifying the race for top positions. Elsewhere, Lille capitalised on Marseille’s slip, climbing onto the podium and further complicating the table for Beye’s side.

The result also highlights a worrying statistic for the new manager. With three defeats in his first seven matches, Beye has recorded the worst start of any Marseille coach since 2005 — a stark reflection of the challenges he faces in stabilising one of France’s most demanding clubs.

While it is still early in his tenure, the pressure is already beginning to build. Marseille’s expectations remain high, and consistency will be key if Beye is to win over supporters and secure his long-term future at the club. For now, the journey is proving far from smooth, and the road ahead looks just as demanding.